HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Board Minutes-12-12-2023 Orange County Department on Aging
Advisory Board on Aging
MINUTES
Tuesday, December 8, 2023, 1 — 3 p.m.
Passmore Center and Hybrid
In Attendance: Colin Austin, Ann Bradford, Jeff Charles, Jackie Podger, Dick White, Sandy Walker,
Rachel Bearman.
Staff: Shenae McPherson, Kim Lamon- Loperfido, Anshu Gupta and Janice Tyler.
Excused Absent: Vibeke Talley, Jeff Charles and Jerry Gregory.
Absent: James Harris
1. Welcome
a. Colin opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.
2. Introductions and Announcements
a. Roundtable introductions.
3. Approval of Minutes — November 14, 2023
a. Approved.
Director's Report
4. Staff updates
a. Currently interviewing for temp part-time evening staff person at Seymour.
b. Interviews for Seymour Center Programs and Operations Manager are scheduled for
early January.
c. Part-time VC55+ program assistant — Interviews are being held this week.
d. Hong Zhou, our bi-lingual social worker, has accepted a new position and will be leaving
us on Dec. 29. She has been so valuable working both with programming and with our
Aging Transitions division serving mandarin speaking clients. It will be very difficult to fill
her position.
5. County Art Policy
a. Several departments are involved in reviewing this policy. Censoring art was one of the
reasons for this policy to be reviewed. We had a show at Seymour that precipitated this-
some pieces were controversial.
2022-27 Master Aging Plan
6. MAP Steering Committee was held on December 8, 9-11 a.m. Carol Woods Retirement
Community. It was a productive meeting with many partners represented. AARP presented a
plaque for completing a cycle of Improvement (5 years) for age friendly work. Commissioners
were present for this facilitation.
7. First Quarter Year 2 Reports from MAP Workgroup Leaders. Kim and Shenae reported.
Objective 7.3: Coordinate local efforts to enhance affordable health care support.
• Strategy: 7.3.2: Increase quality of in-home, respite and adult day care services.
o Snow Approach offering twice weekly free Champion level Courses (40+annually) ,
monthly volunteer training and certification, more than 200 ppl trained , specifically staff
of Home Instead, Always Best Care, Wisdom Senior Care and Terra Bella partnership
o R Place August training for new volunteers, on-going training of volunteers, Program
launch September— with average of 11 participants
Objective 7.4: Expand services to help older adults age in community.
• Strategy 7.4.3: Support the establishment of new and existing community care
neighborhoods. (7.4.3a. County agency programs are used to provide support and training
for communities.)
o Provided presentations and resources to 5 communities.
o Reengaged the Neighborhood Connections Senior Resource Team
Objective 7.5: Expand accessibility of available health and wellness resources
• Strategy 7.5.2: Educational programming to increase residents' awareness of and
comfort with class offerings.
o Seymour Center hosted its Health and Wellness Fair on September 21, 2023
o Total of 32 vendors
o Total of 275 community members engaged.
Objective 7.7: Support planning for and fulfillment of individual goals in all stages at the
end-of-life
• Strategy 7.7.3: Support legislation and policy change to facilitate end of life planning
and increase choice. (7.7.3b. Affordable Green Burial financial options are identified and
expanded)
o Bluestem Community Fund workgroup began work on receiving approval as a full
committee — full approval of operating committee was granted in September of 2023
o Begun the process for creating the application and enrollment process.
New Business
8. Support letter for Fiddlehead community asking for a change in zoning so they can have 2
family care facilities on the property. Letter of support is needed. They are not a CCRC. They
are trying to help each other age in community. Is there any opposition to this being built?.
There is no general knowledge as of now.
Motion to approve- Dick motioned to write a letter of support and all agreed.
A discussion followed with Rachel questioning should there be guidelines for such future plans
so that we know that MAP goals etc are supported.
9. Vice-chair Needed and Board Vacancies
a. Ann agreed to be vice chair and was unanimously voted.
b. Suru and her husband are no longer on board. Positions 10 and 11 are vacant.
c. There will be 4 vacancies by June 2024.
d. Linda Cook might be interested. Jeff (CH)and Dick, Sandy and Ann (Carrboro slot) can
be reappointed. Vibeke fills Hillsborough slot. James will be coming off.
e. Motion to invite Gigi to the next board meeting.
10.Annual Board Report is due to BOCC on Jan. 19.
11. 2024 Aging Board meeting schedule — March 12t" meeting will be from 10 a.m. — noon, as
Janice will need to drive leave early to attend the NCAOA conference.
Committee Progress Reports if needed:
11.Senior Tar Heel Legislature — Dick White/Vibeke Talley
a. Nothing new to report.
12.Nursing Home and Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee — Jackie Podger
a. Completed a lot of visits. The merger of the committees is working out well. Next
meeting Feb 7, 2024. Visitation is quarterly.
b. Ombudsman Autum Cox had announced that Central Pines COG/AAA is hosting an
open house on Jan 24 for the community to see their new space.
13.Friends of the Passmore Center— James Harris
a. Holiday Market on December 9 was a great success. They sold out of food. 50 vendors
were present.
14.Friends of the Seymour Center
a. Nothing new to report.
Adjournment
Next meeting: January 9, 1-3 pm — Seymour Center & Virtual